city.ballet

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I love watching anything about ballet. Breaking Pointe ended their second season a few months ago. Now there is another series that I'm watching is city.ballet.

city.ballet is a behind-the-scenes docudrama about the New York City Ballet. The show is produced by Sarah Jessica Parker. The episodes are five to eight minutes long. I wish they were longer, but even though they are short, they are very good.

From the city.ballet About page: "Imagine a city unto itself- a place where 16 year olds are professionals, 18 year olds are revered and many 30 year olds are retirees. Imagine a world so insular that nearly every one of these virtuosos has trained together in an academy since childhood, their lives forever intertwined by work, play, competition, friendship and love. Imagine a world in which the bottom line standard is to be, simply, the best on the planet, and where each night, an empty stage, in front of thousands, beckons with a challenge. This enclave has a name- New York City Ballet- and you are invited into this world, one that has never opened up to the outside before. A documentary series brought to you by Sarah Jessica Parker Pretty Matches Productions and the Emmy award winning Zero Point Zero Production for Aol On Originals."

Below is Episode 1 of city.ballet.

Ballet West

Breaking Pointe is a reality TV show on the CW Network. It is a show that goes behind the scenes at Ballet West, a ballet company in Salt Lake City, Utah. The season finale of Breaking Pointe was broadcasted on September 17.

Ballet West is hosted a season finale party in Salt Lake City last night. Cast members attended the party and watched the finale with fans. As a fan of the show, I was sent an email inviting me to RSVP to the party. I would have loved to attend the party and meet the dancers. But it really just wasn't a option for me.

The only way to watch the wonderful dancers from Ballet West is on this reality show, Breaking Pointe. CW Network should be deciding soon if it will get a Season Three. I hope it does. Ballet is not on TV a lot. Shows like this can help keep the art alive and help introduce it to a new audience. Ballet is beautiful and it deserves a spot on next summer's CW lineup.

Breaking Pointe

I'm thankful that I watch The CW network. If I didn't, I wouldn't have known anything about Breaking Pointe. The CW ran so many promo ads for it. Breaking Pointe is a reality series that followed the ballet dancers at Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. The season finale was last Thursday. The show only had six episodes. I hope that the show gets renewed for another season.

I became a fan of ballet back in 2004. I photographed two local dance companies for an assignment. I focused on ballet. The photos were beautiful. About a year after taking the photos, I called one of the studios and was invited to come back. I went back to the studio and photographed ballet and other classes as well (i.e. hip hop, jazz and pointe). I kept going back until the fall of 2010. My free time schedule changed after I increased my running mileage and started running ultra marathons. Even though I haven't been at the studio, my love for ballet remains the same.

What I love about the series Breaking Pointe is the behind the scenes stuff. I love the footage of the dancers at rehearsal. I love the dancers backstage, getting ready for the final shows of the season. The reason I love it is that is how I saw the dancers when I was photographing them. I was with them at rehearsal in the studio. I was with them at rehearsal at the theater. I was with them backstage when they danced at their final recital of the year. Not too many people get to see that side. I knew how much hard work went into their shows. The dancers made it look effortless. Even though it is anything but.

The cast members of Breaking Pointe are unsure if the show will be back for a second season. I really hope the show does get picked up for another season. Ballet is a wonderful art form that not too many people see in person. If ballet is on television, it can be seen by many more people. That can help ballet grow so much more.

Backstage view - Tecumseh, MI

Indie Ink

My photo, Ballerinas, is featured on Indie Ink today.

Smiles - Tecumseh, MI

I'm still editing recital photos, but I really liked this one. I love the smiles on all of their faces.

Warm up - Adrian, MI

Favorite Photos of the Year

Both photos taken at Encore Dance Studio in Adrian, MI.

Tutu - Adrian, MI

Waiting for the music to start - Adrian, MI

Too tired to write anything

I'm tired from shoveling snow. So here is a photo that I took last week. Enjoy!

Extension - Adrian, MI

Barre exercises - Adrian, MI

Pointe warmup - Adrian, MI

One of my favorites from Advanced Pointe class at Encore Dance Studio in Adrian, MI.

Ballet

I will be doing something fun for myself this afternoon. I will be going to a dance studio in town to photograph ballet after a year hiatus. I never wanted to give up photographing it, but work would usually get in the way. With high school sports games being held later in the evening, I can photograph an early ballet class. I'm so excited!